Resources
Knowledge is your first line of asset protection.
Everything you need to understand Medicaid long-term care planning — from common questions and key terms to state-specific guides and downloadable tools. Explore at your own pace, then call us when you're ready.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers to what families ask most.
These are the questions we hear most often. If yours isn't here, a free consultation is the fastest way to get a specific answer for your situation.
Is it legal to protect assets from the Medicaid spenddown?
Yes. Every strategy we use is specifically permitted under current state and federal Medicaid eligibility rules. Each technique is legally sanctioned — not a loophole, but a right. We never advise on fraudulent transfers or asset concealment.
My husband is already in a nursing home. Is it too late to plan?
No. As long as countable assets remain, Medicaid planning is still possible. The Medicaid long-term care program looks back 5 years for transfers, but that lookback period does not prevent planning — it's part of what we plan around.
What is the Medicaid spenddown?
The Medicaid spenddown is the process by which an applicant must reduce their countable assets to the state reserve limit — typically $2,000 for single patients — before Medicaid will begin paying for long-term care. Crisis Medicaid planning is designed to protect assets from this process.
We have over a million dollars. Is that too much to protect?
No. Not all assets count toward the Medicaid spenddown — some are exempt. For the assets that do count, we routinely help married couples with over a million dollars qualify a spouse for Medicaid while protecting all of the couple's assets.
Does Medicare pay for nursing home care?
Medicare covers skilled nursing facility (SNF) care on a short-term basis only — typically following a qualifying 3-day hospital stay. Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care. Once Medicare's SNF benefit is exhausted, families must pay privately or qualify for Medicaid.
Can I give away assets to qualify for Medicaid?
You can transfer assets, but Medicaid has a 5-year lookback period and will impose a penalty period of ineligibility for uncompensated transfers. Strategies like the Half-a-Loaf plan use this penalty calculation intentionally and strategically.
Will Medicaid take my home?
Medicaid does not take your home during your lifetime. However, states may pursue estate recovery after death to recoup the cost of long-term care paid by Medicaid. A properly designed Medicaid plan includes strategies to protect the home from estate recovery.
Will I only be able to go to a bad nursing home if I'm on Medicaid?
No. Medicaid pays at any facility that accepts Medicaid — which is the majority of nursing homes nationwide. Facilities are prohibited by law from treating Medicaid patients differently from private-pay patients, except regarding the guarantee of a private room.
What is the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA)?
The CSRA is the amount of countable assets the Community Spouse is allowed to retain when their partner applies for Medicaid long-term care. The exact amount varies by state and is updated annually. Planning strategies can often protect assets well beyond this baseline allowance.
How long does the Medicaid application process take?
Timelines vary by state and case complexity, but most applications are processed within 45–90 days of filing. Having complete, well-organized documentation — which our partner Medicaid Success Select handles — significantly reduces delays and the risk of denial.
STATE GUIDES
Medicaid rules vary dramatically by state. Find yours.
Asset limits, income rules, spousal allowances, funeral trust limits, and application processes differ from state to state. Our state guides give you a clear picture of the rules that apply to your situation.
Wisconsin
Last updated: January 1, 2026
FREE DOWNLOADS
Take the information with you.
These guides are free to download and share. Each one covers a specific aspect of Medicaid long-term care planning in plain, accessible language.
SINGLE PATIENTS
The Half-a-Loaf Plan — Asset Protection Strategies for Single Nursing Home Patients
A plain-language guide explaining how single nursing home patients can typically protect 50% or more of exposed assets through the Half-a-Loaf strategy — including a real-world case study showing the plan in action.
4 pages · Free
Married couples
Navigating the Medicaid Maze — Help for Married Couples Facing Long-Term Care
Covers spousal impoverishment protections, the Medicaid application process, and how the MPA ecosystem helps married couples protect their assets and qualify for coverage.
3 pages · Free
All families
Q&A About Medicaid Planning — Your Most Common Questions Answered
A comprehensive Q&A guide covering asset protection, the spenddown, the 5-year lookback, nursing home quality, estate recovery, and more — in plain language for families navigating a long-term care crisis.
4 pages · Free
Essential reading
The Consumer's Guide to Protecting Your Wealth & Securing Medicaid Eligibility
A family-facing guide covering the four ways to pay for nursing home care, the critical difference between Medicare and Medicaid, exempt vs. countable assets, division of assets for married couples, and three real-world case studies — including a Wisconsin married couple, a family with a disabled adult child, and a family navigating gifting rules. Brought to you as a service of InsurMart LLC.
15 pages · Free
Financial advisors
10 Powerful Reasons Brokers Are Leading with the Irrevocable Funeral Expense Trust (IFET)
A broker-focused guide from InsurMart LLC explaining why top producers lead with the Irrevocable Funeral Expense Trust — a Medicaid, VA, and SSI exempt asset protection tool with no medical underwriting, 24–48 hour issuance, and built-in creditor protection. Learn how the IFET opens deeper client conversations, pairs with annuity repositioning strategies, and generates fast commissions — making it one of the most powerful tools in crisis Medicaid planning. Provided as a service of InsurMart LLC.
2 pages · Free · For licensed advisors & agents
GLOSSARY
Key terms every family should know.
Medicaid planning comes with its own vocabulary. Understanding these terms helps you ask the right questions and make informed decisions.
Spenddown
The process of reducing countable assets to the state reserve limit before Medicaid will approve long-term care coverage. Crisis Medicaid planning seeks to minimize unnecessary spenddown.
Community Spouse
The healthy spouse who continues to live at home while their partner receives Medicaid-covered nursing home care. Federal law provides specific protections for the Community Spouse's assets and income.
Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA)
The federally protected amount of countable assets the Community Spouse is allowed to keep. The amount is set by each state and updated annually.
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA)
The minimum monthly income the Community Spouse is entitled to receive. If the Community Spouse's own income falls short, a portion of the nursing home spouse's income may be diverted to meet this floor.
Countable assets
Assets that Medicaid counts toward the spenddown. Includes bank accounts, investments, and most non-exempt property. Does not include the primary home (in most circumstances), one vehicle, personal property, and pre-paid funeral arrangements.
Exempt assets
Assets that Medicaid does not count toward the spenddown — including the primary residence, one vehicle, household furnishings, personal property, and pre-paid irrevocable funeral trusts.
5-year lookback period
The 60-month window prior to a Medicaid application during which all asset transfers are reviewed. Transfers made during this period may result in a penalty period of ineligibility. Planning around the lookback — not avoiding it — is the foundation of crisis Medicaid strategy.
Penalty period
A period of Medicaid ineligibility imposed when assets are transferred for less than fair market value during the lookback period. The penalty is calculated by dividing the transferred amount by the state's average private-pay nursing home rate.
Medicaid-compliant annuity
A specific type of annuity that converts a lump sum of countable assets into a structured income stream, meeting all Medicaid requirements. The income generated is treated as income — not an asset — for Medicaid eligibility purposes.
Irrevocable funeral trust (IFT)
A pre-paid funeral arrangement that is fully exempt from the Medicaid asset calculation. Funds placed in an IFT are permanently dedicated to funeral and burial expenses and cannot be reclaimed. Limits vary by state.
Authorized Representative
A person or organization designated to act on behalf of a Medicaid applicant in communications with the state Medicaid agency. Medicaid Success Select serves in this role for every application they manage.
Estate recovery
The process by which a state may seek reimbursement for Medicaid long-term care costs from the estate of a deceased recipient who was age 55 or older. A complete Medicaid plan includes strategies to protect against estate recovery.
STAY CONNECTED
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Medicaid rules change. New strategies emerge. Families ask great questions. Follow our pages for plain-language content that keeps you informed — whether you're in the middle of a planning situation or just preparing for the future.
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Join our Facebook community for educational posts, planning tips, Q&A content, and updates on Medicaid rule changes — written in plain language for families and caregivers.
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YouTube
Medicaid Planning Advisory
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video walkthroughs of Medicaid planning strategies, case study breakdowns, and step-by-step guides — all designed for families navigating long-term care decisions.
Strategy walkthroughs & explainers
Half-a-Loaf & spousal planning breakdowns
State-specific rule summaries
Guidance for adult children & caregivers
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Not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. Information is educational only.